President Donald Trump on Tuesday fired FBI director James Comey, ousting the man heading a wide-ranging investigation into whether his aides colluded with Russia to sway last year’s US election.In a shock move that drew comparisons to the Watergate scandal that brought down Richard Nixon, Trump told Comey the FBI needed new leadership and he was being “terminated” with immediate effect.Under Comey’s leadership, the FBI concluded that President Vladimir Putin approved a wide-ranging campaign to

World News May 10, 2017

Acting President and Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will offer his resignation to the new president Wednesday, his office said Tuesday. He is also to sign off on the resignations of the top presidential staff so as to clear the Blue House for the arrival of the new team. Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea won the presidential election Tuesday and is expected to take his presidential oath at noon Wednesday. On his last day at work, Hwang vowed fair management of the election and ballot co

Politics May 9, 2017

Ten South Korean kindergartners were killed in a traffic accident in China on Tuesday, after a bus they were in caught fire, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said. The accident took place at around 9 a.m. in Weihai, Shandong province, as the vehicle crashed into a garbage truck in front of them, catching fire while in a tunnel. Twelve people aboard died, including a Chinese child and the Chinese bus driver, while a Chinese instructor was severely injured, the ministry said. “We have dispatched eight off

International May 9, 2017

As South Koreans go to the polls to elect their 19th president, they are set to watch the day unfold while snacking on fried chicken, a survey conducted by Realmeter revealed Saturday.Voting began at 6 a.m. and will continue until 8 p.m., with the National Election Commission set to announce the result about 2 a.m. (123RF)Among the 502 respondents above the age of 19 who answered the survey, 34.7 percent said they wanted fried chicken followed by pork feet (9.2 percent) and roasted pork belly (8

Social Affairs May 9, 2017

More than 1,200 South Korean members of families separated across the border since the 1950-53 Korean War died in the first quarter of this year, government data showed Wednesday.The two Koreas held last family reunions in October 2015 at a resort on Mount Kumgang on North Korea's east coast. The event was suspended amid tensions in inter-Korean ties.The number of separated family members who died in the January-March period reached 1,273, compared to 3,378 tallied for the whole year of 2016, ac

North Korea May 3, 2017

US President Donald Trump offered some backhanded praise for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, calling him "a pretty smart cookie" in a television interview that aired Sunday.Trump's almost admiring remarks came amid soaring tensions with North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs, with an alarmed Washington looking to China for help in reining in Kim.Trump said he had "no idea" whether Kim was sane or not, but said the North Korean leader had faced a formidable challenge in taking over th

North Korea May 1, 2017

President Donald Trump said in a television interview to be aired Sunday that he believes China’s president has been putting pressure on North Korea as it pursues its missile and nuclear weapons programs. In an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Trump said he won’t be happy if North Korea conducts a nuclear test and that he believes Chinese President Xi Jinping won’t be happy, either. Asked if that means military action, Trump responded: “I don’t know. I mean, we’ll see.” On Saturday, a Nort

North Korea April 30, 2017

The growth of coffee addicts is explosive, manifested in the rapid spread of coffee shops, big and small, across the nation. Latest data showed that Koreans consumed more than 25 billion cups of coffee last year, translating into a whopping 500 cups per person. The stakes couldn’t be higher for both franchise coffee chains and smaller self-owned businesses. They are now rushing to diversify themes, offer special brews and explore new concepts. 　 Daelim Warehouse Cafe in Seongsu-dong, Seoul (Park

Culture April 28, 2017

Fintech startup Fin2B on Thursday announced that it has opened an accounts receivable discount platform, serving as a supply chain finance solution, and is moving beyond the domestic market to enter the Asian market. “Currently, our accounts receivable discount platform is in its pilot phase, working together with affiliates of large conglomerates in Korea,” said Fin2B’s CEO Park Sang-soon. “We are also planning to operate this platform in cooperation with Vietnamese companies in the second half

Technology April 27, 2017

진행자: 임정요, Anita McKay　　1. 세금 체납 외국인, 비자 연장 어려워 진다　 　다음 달부터 지방세를 내지 않은 외국인은 체류 기간 연장을 위한 비자 발급이 어려워진다. 국내에 체류하는 외국인은 차량을 보유했거나 소득이 있으면 지방세를 낸다. 하지만, 세금을 내지 않아도 체류 비자 연장 등에 불이익이 없다 보니 일부 외국인은 이를 악용한다. 현재 국내 체류 외국인의 지방세 체납액은 100억 원이 넘는다고 한다.　　아이튠즈(아이폰): https://itunes.apple.com/kr/podcast/koliaheleoldeu-paskaeseuteu/id686406253?mt=2 　팟빵 (안드로이드): http://www.podbbang.com/ch/6638　 　　　Korea to stop visa extension for foreign tax defaulters　　[1] Foreign residents who have unpaid local taxes will be deni

Podcast April 26, 2017

US troops in South Korea began installing the equipment for an advanced missile defense system at a site in a southeastern region of the country, facing fierce protests from local residents.The overnight, unannounced operation came just six days after US Forces Korea secured the land in Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, from the South Korean government. A joint environmental survey required under the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement is not done yet, according to officials.(Yonhap)The allie

Defense April 26, 2017

The startup Discoveryho recently released “FashionSShow,” a bi-directional mobile fashion shopping application. Following the initial release of the Android version in February, an iOS version of the app was released this month. CEO Lee Eun-ho said, “Currently, over two-thirds of the sales of online fashion and beauty shopping malls occur in the mobile environment, and this percentage is expected to continue increasing.”Unlike existing shopping platforms, FashionSShow features video product revi

Technology April 24, 2017

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said Wednesday the US is looking into the possibility of adding North Korea back to the list of states sponsors of terrorism as a way to bring pressure on the communist nation."We're reviewing all the status of North Korea both in terms of state sponsorship of terrorism as well as all the other ways in which we can bring pressure to bear on the regime in Pyongyang to reengage with us on a different footing than the past talks have been held. So yes, we're eval

North Korea April 20, 2017

Optics startup DiYPRO on Monday announced that it is currently developing a functional window film that is capable of using natural light to illuminate much larger spaces inside rooms. The film redirects incoming sunlight onto indoor ceilings, reducing the need for artificial lighting and resulting in a significant reduction in electricity fees for lighting. DiYPRO CEO Kim Myung-joong explained, “The purpose of existing functional window films is to block light, but the product we are currently

Technology April 18, 2017