Most Popular
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Yoon calls for dialogue, trust from medical community
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NK leader guides firing drills involving super-large multiple rocket launchers
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Dyson founder visits Seoul for global debut of new hair dryer
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Leaders call for action against threats to democracy posed by AI
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Asiana Airlines wins data transfer certification in China
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Dispute heats up over dispatch of scandal-ridden envoy to Australia
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Dodgers beat S. Korea in final exhibition before MLB opener in Seoul
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Disgraced ex-K-pop star released after serving time for sex crimes
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Trump unlikely to unravel IRA: experts
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Yoon says medical licenses should not be used as tool against people
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[News Focus] Will Yoon veto Halloween disaster probe?
The ball is in President Yoon Suk Yeol's court after the passage of a special bill to give the National Assembly the power to launch a new probe into the Itaewon crowd crush incident in October 2022 that killed 159 people. Opposition lawmakers called for a renewed investigation so that a wider range of decision-makers would face consequences for the failure to put in place measures to deal with overcrowding as people flocked to the nightlife district for Halloween. The presidential office, howev
Jan. 12, 2024
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Spy chief nominee says NIS won’t meddle in politics
Cho Tae-yong, who was nominated by President Yoon Suk Yeol last month for the National Intelligence Service’s top post, said Thursday he would steer clear of meddling in politics if he is confirmed as its director. During the confirmation hearing held at the National Assembly, Cho was asked to give his stance on the NIS’ history of getting involved in domestic politics, for which several of its high-level officials had been convicted. “I recognize that there had been such incid
Jan. 11, 2024
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Ex-prime minister quits main opposition to launch new party
Former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Thursday officially announced that he is leaving the main opposition party and would launch a new party of his own, saying his mission is to reform the Korean political landscape. “I will walk on the path of serving my country in a new way by leaving the Democratic Party of Korea, where I have served for the past 24 years,” Lee said in a press conference held at the National Assembly in Seoul. “The Democratic Party has transformed into a per
Jan. 11, 2024
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First lady's unique presence a double-edged sword
First lady Kim Keon Hee has arguably been the most active spouse to a South Korean president to date, advocating strongly for the protection of the environment and animal rights, as well as for the global promotion of Korean culture. The 51-year-old had built a successful career as an art exhibition investor and organizer before her husband took office in 2022. Since Yoon took office, she actively engaged with the public, but controversies surrounding her have become the opposition's late
Jan. 10, 2024
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Yoon names new security office deputy, vice foreign minister
President Yoon Suk Yeol tapped his secretary dedicated to economic security as the new deputy of the presidential National Security Office on Wednesday. Wang Yun-jong, secretary for economic security, was promoted to third deputy director of the NSO. Ahn Se-hyun, an international affairs professor at the University of Seoul, will take Wang's post. The 62-year-old Wang and 52-year-old Ahn will both begin in their positions on Thursday, according to Yoon's office. Wang has shaped the direction for
Jan. 10, 2024
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More lawmakers leave Democratic Party of Korea, accusing chief of crony politics
Three lawmakers on Wednesday said they were leaving the Democratic Party of Korea, marking yet another departure of longtime lawmakers from the main opposition that controls a clear majority in the National Assembly. Announcing their decision to leave the Democratic Party they had long been part of, Reps. Lee Won-wook, Kim Jong-min and Cho Eung-cheon cited their disagreements with the party’s chair, Rep. Lee Jae-myung, and the way he is running the party. The lawmakers, prominent members o
Jan. 10, 2024
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Attacker says stabbing was to stop Lee from becoming president
The Busan Metropolitan Police Agency said Wednesday that the political ideology of the suspect in the stabbing of the main opposition leader led to the knife attack. “The attacker had vented resentment toward the Democratic Party leader and wanted to stop Lee from becoming president and prevent him from securing a majority of seats in the upcoming general election by giving nominations to specific persons,” said Woo Cheol-moon, head of the Busan Police Agency, as he briefed the press
Jan. 10, 2024
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Yoon vows to remove hurdle for housing redevelopment projects
President Yoon Suk Yeol said Wednesday that his administration would push to ease regulations concerning the redevelopment of apartment buildings aged 30 years or older, by allowing projects to go ahead even if the existing buildings are safe for habitation. Any residential complex built before 1994 may apply for reconstruction. Previously, owners of the apartment units had to get a municipality's approval that the buildings in the complex were dangerous to live in, no matter how old they w
Jan. 10, 2024
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Yoon's approval rating inches up to 35%: Yonhap survey
President Yoon Suk Yeol's approval rating rose slightly from a month ago to 35 percent, a survey commissioned by Yonhap News Agency and Yonhap News TV showed Wednesday. The rating rose 2 percentage points from last month, while the negative assessment dipped 1 percentage point to 59 percent, according to the survey conducted by Metrix on 1,000 people aged 18 and older Saturday and Sunday. The survey also showed that 35 percent of the respondents said they would vote for the ruling People Po
Jan. 10, 2024
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Yoon vows not to interfere with arts and culture fields
President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed Tuesday that his government will not interfere with anything that the arts and culture industries do, but only work to provide full support for the fields. Yoon made the pledge at a New Year's gathering of South Korean artists and celebrities, noting the achievements of Korean culture and entertainment content, such as K-pop, in recent years. Speaking at the event, Yoon brought up the question he was asked by a reporter about the reason for the popularity of Ko
Jan. 9, 2024
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National Assembly passes dog meat consumption ban
The National Assembly on Tuesday decided to completely root out the practice of butchering dogs for consumption by passing a special bill that punishes such activities. The bill seeks to impose a fine of up to 30 million won ($22,800) or a maximum jail term of three years on dog farmers or butchers who are caught killing dogs for consumption. Those who are caught illegally farming, breeding and distributing dogs will face a maximum prison sentence of two years or a fine of up to 20 million won.
Jan. 9, 2024
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Presidential office introduces 3rd NSO deputy
A legal revision approved by South Korea's Cabinet on Tuesday would allow the presidential National Security Office to create a new deputy director position to be tasked with economic security and technological supremacy in the face of frequent industrial supply chain disruptions. As a result of the reorganization, the newly appointed deputy director of the NSO will be dedicated to stabilizing the supply chain, handling matters related to nuclear power plant exports and minimizing impacts f
Jan. 9, 2024
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Future, current leaders of new political parties jointly call for reform
Four future and current leaders of political parties jointly called for political reform Tuesday, criticising the current two-party dominance. Former Prime Minister and ex-Democratic Party of Korea Lee Nak-yon, Former People Power Party Chairman Lee Jun-seok, New Party Co-Chairman Keum Tae-sup and Hope of Korea Chairman Yang Hyang-ja gathered at Yang’s new book launch event, in a show of solidarity against the current political system. “We have gathered with the shared concern that K
Jan. 9, 2024
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Yoon vows to focus on living standards in 2024
President Yoon Suk Yeol reiterated his policy focus on Tuesday, saying that the new year should be a year to achieve a "recovery of ordinary people's livelihoods," during the first Cabinet meeting of the year he presided. According to Yoon, measures are being undertaken to help ordinary people refinance their mortgages via mobile apps, effective Tuesday, aimed potentially at offering a new term with a lower interest rate. In addition, a greater portion of the vulnerable will recei
Jan. 9, 2024
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Rift within main opposition party widens
An existing fissure within the main opposition party is projected to widen ahead of the April general election, with several current and former heavyweight members parting ways from the party. Former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and ex-Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon said Monday that he would officially announce his departure from the main opposition party through a press conference at the National Assembly scheduled for Thursday. The former premier had hinted on Sunday that the announceme
Jan. 8, 2024
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Presidential office weighs erasing small business owners' late payment records
South Korea is considering removing late payments from the credit history of individuals or vendors who fell victim to the COVID-19 pandemic's economic fallout, possibly before the Lunar New Year's holiday in mid-February. President Yoon Suk Yeol's office "is in talks with the financial authorities to map out the timing of (the removal of delinquency on the credit reports) and the scope of its beneficiaries," said a source from the presidential office on Monday. In Korea, individuals f
Jan. 8, 2024
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[Bills in Focus] Bills to promote climate action, corporate restructuring
Proposed Bill: Partial Amendment to the Financial Investment Services and Capital Markets Act Proposed by Rep. Kim Sung-joo (Democratic Party of Korea) ● As climate change responsiveness increasingly becomes an essential part of business operations, this amendment requires companies to disclose climate-related information, including risks related to climate change and corresponding response plans, greenhouse gas emissions contributing to global warming and goals for reduction, and the implementa
Jan. 8, 2024
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Police to decide whether to disclose identity of opposition lawmaker's assailant
Police plan to decide this week whether to disclose the identity of the suspect in the stabbing attack against opposition leader Lee Jae-myung, officials said Monday. The 67-year-old suspect, known only by his family name Kim, was formally arrested Thursday on charges of stabbing Lee, the chairman of the Democratic Party, in the neck with a camping knife in the southeastern port city of Busan two days earlier. Lee is recovering following surgery at Seoul National University Hospital to repair a
Jan. 8, 2024
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Rival parties clash over revote on investigation into first lady
Korea's two main rival parties have been engaged in a tug-of-war in recent days over the scheduling of a revote for two special investigation bills vetoed Friday by President Yoon Suk Yeol. One of the bills pushes for an investigation into alleged stock manipulation by first lady Kim Keon Hee. The main opposition Democratic Party of Korea is currently considering filing for an adjudication with the Constitutional Court, for the court to decide whether Yoon's veto infringes on their po
Jan. 7, 2024
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20 student activists nabbed after attempting to enter presidential office
Police arrested 20 university students affiliated with a progressive group Saturday after they attempted to enter the presidential office in central Seoul, officials said. The members of the Korean University Progressive Union were caught at the site for allegedly attempting to trespass on the presidential office compound by entering through its western gate and climbing over its fences, according to the officials. Before the attempt, the students had staged a protest outside the compound, deman
Jan. 6, 2024