The daughter of former President Park Geun-hye's close friend will be extradited from Denmark this week after avoiding the prosecution's summons for months, officials said Monday.Chung Yoo-ra, the 21-year-old daughter of Choi Soon-sil, has been held at a detention center in Denmark since January on suspicion of illegal stay. South Korean prosecutors have demanded her extradition in connection with a massive corruption scandal centered on her mother, which eventually led to the ouster of Park in

Social Affairs May 29, 2017

Opposition parties on Monday ramped up their offensive against President Moon Jae-in over his prime minister nominee, pressuring him to directly apologize over the designate dogged by a string of allegations involving his family.Observers, however, said that Moon's apology, should it be made, could help address the political standoff and pave the way for a parliamentary vote on Prime Minister-designate Lee Nak-yon this week.The opposition bloc's criticism centered on Moon's failure to deliver on

Politics May 29, 2017

South Korean President Moon Jae-in stressed the importance of good relations with Asian and European nations, including Russia, vowing to further improve Seoul's diplomatic ties with the countries in a meeting with his special envoys to the regions."I applaud you and also congratulate you on your return after successfully fulfilling all your duties as special envoys," the president told the envoys in the meeting held at the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.The meeting involved Rep. Song Young-g

Politics May 29, 2017

The land ministry said Monday it will start using drones for inspections of high pylons, cliffs, and other hard-to-reach facilities and locations.The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport has purchased four drones for 60 million won ($53,580) that will be used by the Korea Railroad Corp. on a six-month trial basis starting this month. The drones will inspect more than 40 locations, including bridges, tunnels and power line towers, as well as cliffs for potential mudslides.  (Yonhap)Phot

Social Affairs May 29, 2017

South Korea's foreign ministry strongly condemned North Korea's latest missile test Monday, vowing to take stern action against any provocation.The North fired a ballistic missile believed to be a Scud type early Monday morning. It was launched eastward from near Wonsan before landing in the East Sea.  South Korean foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck (Yonhap)"This is a clear violation of the UN Security Council's relevant resolutions and poses a serious threat not only to the Korean Penins

North Korea May 29, 2017

The head of South Korea's National Security Council was set to visit the National Assembly on Monday to brief ruling and opposition party leaders about the latest missile provocation by North Korea.Chung Eui-yong, the chairman of the NSC's standing committee, was set to meet with National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun and floor leaders of four major political parties, according to an official from the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae. Chung Eui-yong, the chairman of the NSC's standing committ

Defense May 29, 2017

The National Assembly is set to hold a confirmation hearing on National Intelligence Service director-designate Suh Hoon on Monday, with opposition parties focusing on his stance on North Korea and NIS reform, and ethical qualifications.The hearing for Suh comes amid a growing controversy over President Moon Jae-in's high-level nominees, including Prime Minister-designate Lee Nak-yon, who came under fire for his wife's use of a false home address to get assigned to a school in southern Seoul. Th

Politics May 29, 2017

South Korea's young women are increasingly becoming either overweight or underweight, while men are gaining in abdominal obesity, a medical report said Monday.The research results showed that among women in their 20s and 30s, prevalence for becoming underweight increased from 8.8 percent in 1998 to 14 percent in 2012. Prevalence for becoming overweight also increased from 1.9 percent to 4.3 percent during the period. (Yonhap)The findings were based on five separate national health and nutritiona

Social Affairs May 29, 2017

Senior officials of South Korea and the United Nations will meet in Seoul this week to discuss a wide range of cooperative issues including the growing North Korea nuclear threat, the ministry said Sunday. (Yonhap)The meeting will be held on Monday between Lee Jang-keun, who is in charge of the ministry's international organizations bureau, and Miroslav Jenca of the UN Department of Political Affairs, according to the ministry. This marks their first policy dialogue in which both are expected to

Foreign Affairs May 28, 2017

DAEGU -- An aged nuclear power reactor located in the southeastern region of South Korea came to a halt on Sunday, its operators said. The Wolsong No. 1 nuclear power reactor on the country's southeast coast was automatically halted at around 3:20 p.m., according to the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co.(Yonhap)No radioactive leak or damage was reported.A KHNP official said that the reactor stopped operation while preparations were made for safety checks.The reactor was supposed to receive checks o

Social Affairs May 28, 2017

Oh Seung-hwan of the St. Louis Cardinals has earned his 30th career save in Major League Baseball. Oh threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver on Saturday (local time), preserving the Cards' 3-0 victory. The right-hander gave up a hit but collected two strikeouts to pick up his 11th save of the season.Oh, who made his big league debut last year, had 19 saves last season.  In this photo taken by the Associated Press on May 23, 2017, St. Louis Cardinals

Baseball May 28, 2017

A local company will sign a contract to export 300 billion won ($268 million) worth of bee venom mask packs to China this week, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Sunday.The signing ceremony will be held at the Convention and Exhibition Center in southeastern Seoul on Monday between Beesen Co. and China's DIA Group, the ministry said, adding Beesen has developed the technology for the production of the bee venom mask packs with the financial assistance from the ministry fro

Industry May 28, 2017

SHANGHAI -- The Google-owned computer algorithm AlphaGo is retiring from playing humans in the ancient Chinese game of Go after roundly defeating the world’s top player this week, its developer said Saturday.AlphaGo defeated brash 19-year-old world number one Ke Jie of China on Saturday to sweep a three-game series that was closely watched as a measure of how far artificial intelligence has come.AlphaGo last year become the first computer programme to beat an elite player in a full Go match, and

World May 28, 2017

A possible delay in appointing South Korea's new prime minister is making headlines across the nation, but to those unfamiliar with South Korean politics, it may be hard to understand why a delay in finding a new premier is such a big deal.The country's parliament is in the process of deliberating on the appointment of Lee Nak-yon, a former legislator and provincial governor, as new prime minister. The appointment is made by the president, but it requires prior approval by the National Assembly.

Politics May 28, 2017